So maybe you’ve already heard a bit about traffic in Taiwan. Certainly, there is a lot out there about how intense driving in Taipei is. Before we moved to Taiwan, we found a lot of places on the internet that warned about the driving experience here. We certainly don’t disagree, but we may have a different perspective on it.
First, Pauline and I weren’t really interested in driving in Taiwan. We came to Taipei specifically because of the cheap and accessible public transport. So far, both reputation and reality have lived up to this expectation. The public transportation here is fantastic! We will do a post in detail about what has made it pretty easy for us to get around the “island”. But you can also skip to our page on the MRT.
Secondly, as an expat that lived extensively in Costa Rica, I figured that the warnings about Taiwan’s driving came from a modern western perspective. Now that we’re here, I still think that’s true. While the traffic rules patterns definitely feel foreign, they generally strike me as different not alarming. I have never seen such a mix of well thought out signage and traffic controls and random ways to negotiate them.
There are counters on the major traffic lights so you know how long it takes for the light to change. And there is such a thing as a left hand turn box. On major crossroads, traffic is such that a dedicated turn lane sometimes would snarl the flow. So, drivers (actually mainly on scooters and bikes) turn right, and stop in the turn box. When the light changes, they are first in line to head straight. This is actually pretty functional. However it seems really foreign from a western eye.
Gas scooters are a big part of life here. They, and the less common 125cc motorcycles can 
also have some pretty ingenious modifications to make them utilitarian small urban transport platforms. I love how it feels pretty foreign when you see the mix of scooters and cars here. Especially when the light turns and everyone jockeys for pole position to make it through the next light. There is the best of the modern automotive world, shiny and new. Or just your regular yellow taxis and buses and sedans like usual. Alongside are modified two wheel configurations to make it easy to move the most stuff from point A to point B. Then the light turns green and everyone jams on the gas.
I will admit a bit of alarm and surprise at the off the cuff-ness of traffic here. Yesterday I saw a car do a full 360 in the middle of an intersection just to make a right hand turn from his original starting point. He i
n effect made his own instant roundabout. But, he was the only one playing at the moment. This is a city of paying attention while interacting on the paved surfaces. I have seen people just throw themselves full throttle into a right hand turn without looking. I think the assumption is that everyone else will be watching. It is a bit surprising that there aren’t more accidents. Probably because most everyone is. That seems to sum up traffic in Taiwan. Most everyone is paying attention. And you never know what people will try to pull.
Even if you are just walking on the covered sidewalks in front of stores you have to keep your senses about you. The uncovered spaces are also used as “off-street” parking by the various scooters. 
There are scooter designated parking spaces and lots like this one, but there isn’t enough space for everyone. Most owners try to find legitimate spaces to secure their rides wherever they can. Hence parking on the sidewalk. Since the only way to access the sidewalks is by the ramps on the corners, you frequently have to make room so someone can drive past to park their scooter mid-block. The end effect, however (even though there are some pretty dangerous collisions) is that people do try to make enough space so that everyone can make their way through their day.